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October 6, 1954, Crépy-en-Valois, Oise:

Reference for this case: 6-Oct-54-Crépy-en-Valois.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.

Summary:

This case is one of the few for which a documentation of the time by the National Gendarmerie exists, made public in the 2000s.

It is indeed told in a letter sent to the Scientific Bureau of the National Gendarmerie that by the Report #482 of the 10.10.1954, an office of Gendarmerie whose name was censored, but being in the Oise department, had reported that on October 6, 1954, at approximately 8 p.m., a witness whose name is censored, residing in a censored place, observed for about 40 minutes from 8:10 p.m. to 8:50 p.m., a luminous disc of red orange color of an apparent diameter of half of the full moon, supporting a kind of nacelle. This apparition, whose luminous intensity was variable, and which alternately extinguished and re-lit several times, seemed to be above Senlis and moved very slowly to the right in relation to the observation place.

The gendarmes indicated that the witness's family, consisting of his wife, two sons and daughter-in-law, had also observed this phenomenon.

In the press of the time, the newspaper L'Oise-Matin for October 8, 1954, simply reported that on October 6, 1954 at 8:30 p.m., in Crépy-en-Valois, "four people saw a saucer heading towards Duvy."

The next day, the same newspaper gave some more details:>/p>

As for the luminous craft which was seen Wednesday evening in the sky of Crépy by four people who declared to have observed its moves, it is specified that his appearance took place at exactly 8:30 p.m.. Mr. Detertigny son was returning at this time to his parents' home. "Come quickly and see," he said, "I saw a weird glow in the sky."

Immediately Mr. and Mrs. Detertigny and their daughter-in-law came outside.

Witnesses said they saw all in the sky, heading towards Duvy in the northwest, "a glow whose colors were changing and moving."

"It looked like a pendulum," said Mr. Detertigny senior.

The craft and the glow would then have changed places, heading north. The phenomenon had been going on, they say, for about thirty minutes, when Mrs. Detertigny, having already served the evening meal, suggested that it would be good to start it.

The witnesses then returned home. When they came out, a few minutes later, the vision was gone. At this hour, the night was total and the sky very pure, many stars were visible. The craft was, in comparison, say the witnesses, the size of the moon which was opposite the apparition.

Claude Poher, a scientist and private ufologist of the GEPA group, who was to lead the first official French UAP reports study group GEPAN in the 1970's, had listed this case in the 1970's, indicating that the place was Crépy-en-Valois.

Reports:

[Ref. lon1:] NEWSPAPER "L'OISE-MATIN":

Scan.

In the sky of the Oise

SAUCERS IN
TECHNICOLOR

and numerous appearances
throughout France

If they sometimes include scathing denials for those who believe in the existence of "saucers" - such as this joker from the Nord who confessed to having thrown more than a thousand... in paper - the file of the unknown craft is growing, on the other hand with new and disturbing testimonies, both as regards our department and the rest of France.

This is how in Bethisy-Saint-Martin Mr. Etienne Docolo, declared to have seen in the sky a luminous and glowing disc slowly moving in space and in La Chapelle-aux-Pots, twelve people claim to have seen saucers, last Sunday, around 11 p.m. 30.

The agreement was not made however as regards the color of the apparatuses which moved they say noiseless in direction North-West. Mr. Yves Quelcelin, residing in Marivaux, hamlet of Hodenc-en-Bray affirms, in fact, that the saucers were red while the person who accompanied him declared to the gendarmes of the Coudray-St-Germer brigade, that the gear was green.

Elsewhere, in our department, we report a rush of the - armed - inhabitants of Saint-Aubin-sur-Erquery to a place where the saucers seemed to move. But it was only a reflection of the headlights of a tractor.

Continued on page 10

Scan.

MANY
SAUCERS
REPORTED

Continued from the 1st page

Finally yesterday, Thursday at 8:30 p.m., in Crépy-en-Valois, four people saw a saucer heading towards Duvy.

In the rest of the country, said they saw saucers or other "cigars, barrels, or flying crescents": A mason, Mr. Simonnetti, on the island of Ré, as well as two other inhabitants of the island; two Parisians on vacation in the near town of Mouchamps; Mr. and Mme Landrin, in Duclair (Seine-inferieure) and various witnesses in Saint-Etienne, in several villages of the Eure-et-Loir, in Heyrieux (Isère), Dieulanvollon (Côtes-du-Nord), at Ajort (Calvados) and Biarritz.

In Poncey-sur-l'Ignon (Côte-d'Or), Mrs. Thérèse Fourmeret claimed to have seen Monday evening, a weird craft land in her meadow. The investigation by the gendarmerie revealed that at this location clods of grass had been torn up and thrown within a radius of four meters. As for Mr. Garreau, a farmer from Chaleix, he claimed to have seen a "flying soup tureen" land on his property in Chaleix (Dordogne).

Two beings dressed in khaki suits got out of it, shook my hand and spoke to me in an unknown language, adds Mr. Garreau, who specifies that after having stroked his dog they went back into their craft which flew away noiselessly at a dizzying pace.

The accounts of encounters with the passengers of saucers are legion, currently, but that of Mr. Garreau presents an unexpected originality: the passengers, he says, looked like any human being.

[Ref. lon2:] NEWSPAPER "L'OISE-MATIN":

Scan

In the Oise and elsewhere

THE FANTASTIC ROUND
OF THE SAUCERS CONTINUOUS

The source which feeds the file of the flying saucers for several weeks, at a rate whose regularity does not fail to surprise, does not dry up. This as well as half a dozen unknown craft were reported across France, ranging from the "flying cigar" to the now classic saucer.

In Corigny [sic], in the Nièvre, first of all, several residents said they saw in the sky, in the night from Wednesday to Thursday, a luminous object in the shape of a cigar, bearing in its lower part two discs. The craft, they say, was moving at high speed.

For his part, an office worker claimed to have observed a large luminous disc, yellow-orange in color, and giving off a dazzling clarity at the back.

For their part, two residentts of Montlevicq, near Châteauroux, declared to have seen a flying saucer moving slowly in the sky, above the Bois de Boulaise. About thirty kilometers away, in Saint-Plantaire, other people also said they saw a luminous craft the size of a soccer ball.

Variant of "saucers", these are "globes" which were seen in the sky by two traders from Saint-Bihy, near Quintin (Côtes-du-Nord), the consumers of a drinking establishment went out to observe the same phenomena.

Near Montargis, an employee of a Cholette company claimed to have seen a luminous craft of oval shape moving at great altitude.

Other people working in the vineyards reportedly also saw an identical machine.

In Dordives, not far from there, two residents stated they saw in the sky a craft of a "bizarre" shape, which flew at high altitude, rising rapidly. It disappeared in a westerly direction.

In the sky
of Crépy-en-Valois

As for the luminous craft which was seen Wednesday evening in the sky of Crépy by four people who declared to have observed its moves, it is specified that his appearance took place at exactly 8:30 p.m.. Mr. Detertigny son was returning at this time to his parents' home. "Come quickly and see," he said, "I saw a weird glow in the sky."

Immediately Mr. and Mrs. Detertigny and their daughter-in-law came outside.

Witnesses said they saw all in the sky, heading towards Duvy in the northwest, "a glow whose colors were changing and moving."

"It looked like a pendulum," said Mr. Detertigny senior.

The craft and the glow would then have changed places, heading north. The phenomenon had been going on, they say, for about thirty minutes, when Mrs. Detertigny, having already served the evening meal, suggested that it would be good to start it.

The witnesses then returned home. When they came out, a few minutes later, the vision was gone. At this hour, the night was total and the sky very pure, many stars were visible. The craft was, in comparison, say the witnesses, the size of the moon which was opposite the apparition.

[Ref. gen1:] GENDARMERIE NATIONALE:

Scan.

E.M. F.A.A.
SCIENTIFIC OFFICE
ARRIVAL COURIER
8 NOV. 1954

INFORMATION

Origin: 02
Source: Gendarmerie
Value: B / 2

By P. V. ["Procès Verbal", written report] No. 482 of 10.10.1954, the Gendarmerie of [Blackened out] (Oise) reported that on 6.10.1954 around 8 p.m. Mr. [Blackened out] residing [Blackened out] observed for about 40 minutes from 8:10 pm to 8:00 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. a luminous disc of orange red color with an apparent diameter of half the full moon, supporting a kind of nacelle. This apparition, whose luminous intensity was variable, and which was alternately extinguished and relighted several times, seemed to be above Senlis, and moved very slowly to the right in relation to the point of observation.

The family of Mr. [Blackened out], composed of his wife, his 2 sons and his daughter-in-law, also observed this phenomenon.

By P. V. No. 553 of 19.10.1954, the Gendarmerie of [Blackened out] (Oise) reported that on 18.10.1954 Mrs [Blackened out] and her friend [Blackened out] riding a bicycle between FONTENAY TORCY and SAINT SAMSON LA POTERIE saw a gear shaped as a "cigar" going at a prodigious speed from west to east, then falling vertically. This craft had a white headlight at the front, while orange-red flames arose at the rear. For a few seconds, the area (in a hollow) was illuminated on 2 to 3 square kilometers. 300 meters farther away, the woman, who had felt severe headaches from the moment she saw in the headlight of her bicycle a strange "man" standing motionless on the side of the road, she felt her legs paralyzed. According to Mr. [Blackened out], who followed her, and also saw the "man", she passed only at few centimeters of the "man".

Description of the "man": size 1m. approximately, black face, helmeted head, strong corpulence, leather jacket with brilliant highlights. The light rays of his eyes gave the sensation of emitting electric shocks paralyzing the legs of the 2 cyclists and causing them violent headaches.

The two witnesses experienced intense fright. These people are reputed to be of a serious nature and do not indulge in drinking.

Mr. [Blackened out], residing at [Blackened out], stated that at the same time, on his return from work, he had seen the "cigar" descending vertically; he also declared that the region had been lit up like in broad daylight for 2 seconds.

By P. V. No. 752 of 23.10.1954, the Gendarmerie [Blackened out] (S.I.) reports that on 19.10, from 9.30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Mrs. [Blackened out] and her daughter [Blackened out], observed from their window a strange luminous display. The [Blackened out] housing is a dependence of the castle of EU, it is in elevation of 12 meters with respect to the Boulevard Hélène.

In the direction of the côte d'Ault, also called Côte Saint Valéry, about 1 km. 500 of their observation point, these people saw bright gleams

../...

Scan.

seeming to come from a terrestrial point. The night was very dark, there was wind and it had rained heavily. The lights became stronger and stronger and dazzling, the source remaining fixed. At one point luminous spots were launched from the source in various directions, these "flares" formed red circles, spinning and returning to their starting base. This "luminous ballet" seems to have taken place exclusively on the ground.

The ladies are not subject to hallucinations, they are calm and sensible, the girl was raised at the College of EU until the age of 18, she is in possession of the B.E. [Brevet d'Etudes] and speaks English and German.

From the road bridge over the Bresle, people saw unusual lights in the direction of the Côte de Saint Valéry but could not observe the "ballet".

A chief electrician of the E.D.F. to whom the gendarmes asked for his opinion, thinks that at the indicated places two high voltage power lines are crossing in the fields, the humidity resulting from the heavy rain could cause a powerful electric arc and several colors. He does not explain the phenomenon of revolving lights.

By P.V. n° 159/4 of 23.10.1954 the Section of Gendarmerie of [Blackened out], reports that the 21.10.154 at 07:30 p.m., the Maréchal des Logis Chef [Blackened out] and the Gendarme [Blackened out] of the Brigade of [Blackened out] observed a luminous phenomenon as they circulated between Andres and Guines, heading towards Guines.

They saw a very bright luminous trail crossing the sky at low altitude and at very high speed following a strictly horizontal trajectory oriented N-S.

The thing had the shape of a cone, point forward, from 200 to 300 m. long and with a diameter of 2 to 10 m., the base of the cone being prolonged by a multitude of sparks - altitude 400 to 500 m. No noise emitted - brightness of lightning bolts. The phenomenon was visible for 15 seconds at most.

[Ref. cpr1:] CLAUDE POHER, UFO RESEARCH GROUP "GEPA":

In 1968-1969, before the official GEPAN ufology effort started, its future head Dr Claude Poher was a member of the unofficial GEPA ufology group, and gathered a computer coded listing of more than 700 UFO reports on which multiple factors statistical computation could be run. In the file were a number of 1954 French UFO reports, among those this one.

For readability, a decoded interpretation of the data is provided here under the original 80 character encoded string. Decoding was done according to the original indications, the code number and its generic meaning is given. Please not that the generic meaning of each code is a predefined category, not the real specific details of the case. For example, if the main witness' age was 33, the coding would result in a number "3" which corresponds to a category "Adult from 21 to 59 years."

Original code:0626550610195420001JA1133010500018AA150326C0000000000000000000000000000000000000
Location:Crepy en Valois (Oise) - France
Case number:0626
Source code:55
Nature of the source:Reports from official French sources: Police, Gendarmerie, Army, Pilots
Day:06
Month:10
Year:54
Hours:20
Minutes:00
Type of Time:1 = local time
Number of witnesses:1 = 1
Main witness named:1 = name (s) indicated
Main witness age:3 = Adult from 21 to 59 years
Main witness occupation:3 = workman, truck driver, employee, craftsman, nurse, musician, writer, businessman
Official investigation:1 = an official investigation was made
Weather:0 = no indication
Duration:5 = from 20 to 59 minutes
Minimal distance witness - phenomenon:0 = no indication
Method of observation:0 = no indication
Number of "objects" observed simultaneously:01 = 1
Shape of the "object" (terminology of witness(es)):8 = saucer with dome, "canotier (hat)"
Dimensions of the phenomenon:AA
Color of the observed phenomenon:03 = orange, fire color
Luminosity of the phenomenon:2 = luminous, fluorescent
Lights or projectors on the phenomenon:6 = blinking, rotating of pulsating lights
Moving speed of the phenomenon:C = "slow" or "very slow"
Acceleration of the phenomenon:0 = no indication
Trajectory of the phenomenon:0 = no indication
Sounds perceived during observation:0 = no indication
Maximum angular height of observation (horizon = 0°):0 = no indication
Nature of the landing place:0 = no indication
Number of contact points with ground:0 = no indication
Traces of landing:0 = no indication
Observation of "occupants"0 = no indication
Height of the occupants observed:0 = no indication
Garment of the occupants:0 = no indication
Garment:0 = no indication
General behavior of "occupants":0 = no indication
Interaction of "occupants" with witness:0 = no indication
Head, hair:0 = no indication
Voice, breathing, chin:0 = no indication
Skin:0 = no indication
Eyes:0 = no indication
Mouth:0 = no indication
Various details:0 = no indication
Thermal effects:0 = no indication
Luminous effects:0 = no indication
Magnetic effect (or electromagnetic):0 = no indication
Odor perceived by witness:0 = no indication
Physiological effects on the witness(es):0 = no indication
Psychological effect on the witness(es):0 = no indication
Effects on animals:0 = no indication
Other effects reported:0 = no indication
Nebulosity:0 = no indication
Oscillations, emission of matter:0 = no indication
Spin, formation flight:0 = no indication
Immediate disappearance:0 = no indication
Halo surrounding the phenomenon:0 = no indication
Interaction witness / phenomenon (complement to the other rubrics):0 = no indication
Drawing or photo:0 = no indication
Structural details observed:0 = no indication

[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:

Luc Chastan indicates that in the Oise in Crepy en Valois on October 6, 1954, at 20:00 hours, a witness observed during 30 to 40 minutes an object in the shape of a rower hat. Its size was evaluated as 15 minute of arc. It was of luminous orange color, pulsating or having pulsating fires. It moved slowly.

The source is indicated as "Les Universons by Poher Claude ** http://www.premiumwanadoo.com/universons/".

[Ref. lpn1:] "LE PARISIEN":

54 YEARS AGO

Ufo invasion

As in many countries and French regions, the year 1954 was rich in observations of UFOs and other strange phenomena in the Oise. It is believed that visitors to the area were particularly pleased with the department, from Crépy-en-Valois to La Chapelle-en-Serval, via Saint-Samson-la-Poterie, Ressons-sur-Matz, Senlis or Formerie, witnesses swore they saw saucers, flying cigars and other mini-extraterrestrials helmed with an orange beam! Press clippings and gendarmerie investigations evoke these episodes, none of which, alas, brought tangible evidence.

[Ref. ubk1:] "UFO-DATENBANK":

Case Nr. New case Nr. Investigator Date of observation Zip Place of observation Country of observation Hour of observation Classification Comments Identification
19541006 06.10.1954 Crepy Vallois [sic] France 20.00

Explanations:

Map.

The report is poor, but evokes to me some astronomical misinterpretation; I thought of the planet Mars with another planet or star just below constituting the "nacelle".

So I looked at the map of the sky for the time and place of this observation.

Crépy-en-Valois, where the observers were probably at their home because it is in the night and it involves a whole family, is at 49° 13' 52'' North, 2° 53' 22'' East.

For the direction, we are told that the UFO appeared to be above Senlis, a town 22 km in a straight line from Crépy-en-Valois approximately west-southwestward in the direction 263°, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 degrees if the object was exactly above Senlis. Witnesses were not able to see Senlis from Crépy-en-Valois, so a larger margin of error is likely.

As the UFO is said to be above this city which is 22 km away from the observers, it can be assumed that it must have been low in the sky, certainly not at the zenith for example.

At 08:10 p.m. we have Mars, 86% illuminated, 191° azimuth and 15° elevation. The Moon, to the south, illuminated at 67%, is above and to the left of Mars at 182°, elevation 21°, and remains there. There is nothing very bright under Mars.

At 240°, we had Venus, but below the horizon since 07:09 p.m. at 230°.

So, I think there is no proven astronomical explanation, but that Mars and the Moon, partially and intermittently masked by clouds, may have been the cause of this observation.

Another possibility would be Venus, with a "pillar of Venus" effect explaining the "nacelle". The direction would approximately match, but Venus is not orange, and the hours must have been wrong, it would be around 07:30 p.m. instead of 08:10 p.m...

So, I remain undecided.

Keywords:

(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)

Crépy-en-Valois, Detertigny, multiple, night, gleam, Duvy, colors, Oise, official, saucer, orange, luminous, blinking, slow

Sources:

[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.

Document history:

Version: Created/Changed by: Date: Change Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross May 1, 2005 First published.
1.0 Patrick Gross January 20, 2009 Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [lcn1].
1.1 Patrick Gross January 21, 2017 Additions [gen1], [ubk1].
1.2 Patrick Gross March 2, 2017 Addition [lpn1].
1.3 Patrick Gross October 6, 2019 Addition of the Summary. Explanations changed, were "Not looked for yet."
1.4 Patrick Gross May 10, 2021 Addition [lon1]. In the Summary, addition of the paragraph "In the press of the time..."
1.5 Patrick Gross May 17, 2021 Addition [lon2]. In the Summary, addition of the paragraph ""

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